Shillong, Jan 27: Alert has been sounded in Meghalaya including in airport against the Coronavirus that claimed around 80 lives in China while thousands of cases have been confirmed.

A letter from the Mission Director of National Health Mission, Meghalaya to the Airport Director of Umroi Airport and officers of the State Health Department, alerted authority of the Umroi Airport to contact health officials if there are any passengers coming from Wuhan City of China or travel related cases having symptoms of fever, cough and respiratory distress to prevent any impending outbreak of Coronavirus.

The death toll rose to 80 in Wuhan city, and almost 2,800 cases have been confirmed across China.

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals, including humans, and birds. In humans, the virus causes respiratory infections which are typically mild but, in rare cases, can be lethal. In cows and pigs they may cause diarrhea, while in chickens it can cause an upper respiratory disease.